Vander Blue..

[MUMac]

dont mean to be harsh but that is a really low basketball IQ statement.  Players are judged on how they can affect an outcome.  Vander Blue starts for 2 years now becuse he is one of the 5 guys on the team that most help us do that. 

here's one...if you most needed a dunk who would it be Derrick Wilson on Jamil Wilson...

If you most needed someone to dribble end to end who would it be todd mayo or Chris otule?

Those are dumb. 

We had 3 guys score double digits....ONLY 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There is a ton more to basketball and being a good player than scoring!!! 

and while I am sure you are resolute in your beliefs,  the stats actually contradict with them.

As Buzz states, their role is to do the things on the court to help us win.

[Silkk the Shaka]

This is meaningless. Of course a 19 year old is going to be more physically mature than an 18 year old. What difference does it make? You can't change his age. All you're doing is admitting Blue was physically overwhelmed last year, which is what some of us have been saying since last January. I don't care if he was 21 or 12. He shouldn't have been playing as many minutes as he did.

Now you completely changed your argument.  I brought up age in response to your statement "Matthews was from Wisconsin and he was FAR superior to Blue his freshman year. So was Diener."  In that case, age is entirely relevant.  Compare this year from Blue to their frosh years and you will get a more meaningful comparison.

[MerrittsMustache]

This is meaningless. Of course a 19 year old is going to be more physically mature than an 18 year old. What difference does it make? You can't change his age. All you're doing is admitting Blue was physically overwhelmed last year, which is what some of us have been saying since last January. I don't care if he was 21 or 12. He shouldn't have been playing as many minutes as he did.

Who should have been getting those minutes? And why?

[Badgerhater]

Try a few years earlier.

[Canadian Dimes]

What is your point here? Telling us why Blue was bad last year?

Vander had a nice game last night. 3 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists (and 3 turnovers) against Jacksonville. Not sure that's grounds for putting his jersey in the rafters just yet. Let's get some perspective. Matthews was from Wisconsin and he was FAR superior to Blue his freshman year. So was Diener. It took Novak until the DePaul game, but when he was a freshman he made the all regional team in the NCAA tournament. All of these guys were from Wisconsin.

my point is two fold

1.  Vander had a high ranking coming in and many have ripped him since for not meeting their expectation.  My point is i take any ranking of a player from Wisconsin as highly suspect at best.  Some will ultimately live up to hype but the learning curve is much longer and many of them ( inordinate) never do.

2.  While Vander may not yet have lived up to his ranking hype he is still doing IMO a very good job for MU and absolutely deserves to be in the starting lineup, additionally anyone that rates Vanders game based on how many points he scores is dumb. 

[Milkshakes]

I think this all boils down to the perception or fact (you choose) that Vander often does not "finish."  Mayo is getting praise because he finishes in much the way DJO does or shows that kind of potential.  At the end of the day Blue can fill up every single stat line but until he is peceived to finish more often and with more authority there will be doubters. 

I am not ripping him.  However, I will admit that I share the perception that he does not always finish in the way that a guy with his skill set might and that perception leaves me wanting more from him. 




 

[GGGG]

I think this all boils down to the perception or fact (you choose) that Vander often does not "finish."  Mayo is getting praise because he finishes in much the way DJO does or shows that kind of potential.  At the end of the day Blue can fill up every single stat line but until he is peceived to finish more often and with more authority there will be doubters. 

That's because idiots think the only way you can help a basketball team is by scoring.

[Stretchdeltsig]

I agree with the comments here that Blue looks much better than last year.  I enjoy watching him play.  I still find it peculiar that his defense, rebounding, passing and driving are excellent, while his shooting is not existent.  He seems too talented not to be able to score at will.  Defense is much harder to do than shooting.  If he can develop his offensive game by completing layups for baskets and shoot mid-range jumpers, he will become an elite player.  I believe he can do it.  The question is whether he will develop his offense this year or next?

[ErickJD08]

That's because idiots think the only way you can help a basketball team is by scoring.

Perhaps there are some people that think that. I think Blue deserves every minute he has played. When you have some post play, DJO, and Jae, I would rather have a better defender than offensive player.